Overview

• Proposed tariffs are £1.50 for one hour, £3 for two hours, £5 for four hours, and £8 for stays over four hours, with charging targeted to begin in spring 2026 subject to required consents.
• Payments are set to run through RingGo via app or website, with the option to pay until midnight the following day to account for poor signal in the forest.
• Tickets would be transferable between all Forestry England car parks in the New Forest, and annual memberships under £2 a week would offer unlimited parking nationwide.
• Forestry England cites less than 20% government core funding and car-park maintenance costs up about 50% in three years, saying revenue would help avoid closures and increase ranger patrols.
• Local councillors and residents have voiced opposition and affordability concerns, with one councillor linking the need for charges to national fiscal policy and calling for revenue to be kept local.